University of Alabama

Department of Physics and Astronomy

PH 105 LeClair

Summer 2012

Problem Set 5 Solutions

1. HRW 5.31 A block is projected up a frictionless inclined plane with an initial speed of vo =
3.50 m/s. The angle of incline is = 32.0 . (a) How far up the plane does the block go? (b) How
long does it take to get there? (c) What is its speed when it gets back to the bottom?
Solution: Let = 32 . The acceleration down the ramp plane is g sin . If it is to travel a
distance d up the ramp given an initial velocity vi , and reach final velocity vf = 0:
v2f v2i = 2ad = 2gd sin

(1)

v2i

(2)

d=

2g sin

1.18 m

Since we know the acceleration and initial velocity, we can find the time readily.
v(t) = vi + at = vi gt sin = vf = 0
vi
t=
0.673 s
g sin

(3)
(4)

What is the speed at the bottom? Same as it was on the way up. We can verify that, noting that
moving down the ramp the acceleration is now a = +g sin , and the mass moves through distance
d starting from rest:
v2f v2i = 2gd sin
v2f = 2gd sin = 2g
vf = |vi |

(5)


v2i
2g sin

sin = v2i

(6)
(7)

2. HRW 5.57 A block of mass ma = 3.70 kg on a frictionless plane inclined at an angle = 30.0
is connected by a cord over a massless, frictionless pulley to a second block of mass mb = 2.30 kg
(figure below). What are (a) the magnitude of the acceleration of each block, (b) the direction of
the acceleration of the hanging block, and (c) the tension in the cord?
Solution:
Find: The tension in a cord connecting two blocks and the systems acceleration, with one block
on a frictionless incline and the second on a flat surface with coefficient of kinetic friction k .

ma

mb

Given: The mass of both blocks, the coefficient of friction for the block on the flat surface, and
the angle of incline for the ramp.
Sketch: We need free-body diagrams for each mass. Note the axis definitions for each mass. We
are not sure which way the masses will accelerate yet, but we will assume that the hanging mass
mb will fall, meaning the acceleration is in the +x direction for mass ma according to the sketches
below. If we chose incorrectly, the acceleration will come out negative to let us know.

n
T

mb g

ma g
y

Since the rope is presumably taut the entire time of interest, the acceleration is the same for both
blocks. For the same reason, the tension applied to both blocks is the same.
Relevant equations: Newtons second law and geometry will suffice. Along the y direction for
ma and along the x direction for mb , the forces must sum to zero. Along x direction for ma and
y direction for mb , the forces must give the acceleration for each mass.
X
X

Fy = 0

(8)

Fx = max

(9)

Symbolic solution: First consider mass A. The free body diagram above yields the following,
noting that the acceleration will be purely along the x direction:

X
X

Fy = n ma g cos = 0

(10)

Fx = T ma g sin = ma a

a=

T
g sin
ma

(11)

For mass B, things are simpler, but we should keep in mind that the acceleration is along y:
X
X

Fy = T mb g = mb a

T = mb (g a)

Fx = 0

(12)
(13)

We have enough to find the acceleration in terms of known quantities now:

T
mb
(g a) g sin
a=
g sin =
ma
m



 a
mb
mb
a 1+
=g
sin
ma
ma


mb ma sin
a=g
ma + mb

(14)
(15)
(16)

Given this acceleration, the tension is found readily from T = mb (g a).




mb ma sin
T = mb g mb a = m b g m b g
ma + mb




2
2
ma mb + mb mb + ma mb sin
ma m b
(1 + sin )
=g

=g
ma + mb
ma + mb
ma + mb

(17)
(18)

Numeric solution: Given ma = 3.7 kg, mb = 2.3 kg, and = 30 , the tension is



m a mb
(1 + sin ) 20.9 N
T =g
ma + mb

(19)

and for either block the acceleration is:


a=g

mb ma sin
ma + mb

0.736 m/s2

(20)

Since the acceleration is positive, we were correct in our original assumption - mass mb moves
downward, and mass ma to the right.
3. HRW 5.50 In the figure below, three ballot boxes are connected by cords, one of which wraps
over a pulley having negligible friction on its axle and negligible mass. The three masses are
ma = 30.0 kg, mb = 40.0 kg, and mc = 10.0 kg. When the assembly is released from rest, (a) what

is the tension in the cord connecting B and C, and (b) how far does A move in the first 0.250 s
(assuming it does not reach the pulley and B and C do not reach the floor)?

A
B
C

Solution: Let the tension in the cord connecting B and C be Tbc , and the tension in the cord
connecting B and A be Tba . Mass C has only two forces acting on it: Tbc and its weight mc g.
Clearly the acceleration is downward, in the same direction as the weight and opposite the tension.
Tbc mc g = mc a

(21)

Mass A has only one force acting on it, the tension Tab , giving
(22)

Tab = ma a

This is not quite enough information. However, since B and C are connected together, we may
treat them, from the point of view of the upper cord, as a single mass (mb + mc ) connected to
mass A. There are two forces acting on B and C connected together: their weight, and the tension
Tab . Thus,
Tab (mb + mc ) g = (mb + mc ) a

(23)

Since we already know Tab = ma a,

ma a (mb + mc ) g = (mb + mc ) a


mb + m c
g 6.13 m/s2
a=
ma + mb + mc

(24)
(25)

The desired tension is readily found now, since Tbc = mc (g a)




mb + m c
mc ma + mc mb + m2c mc mb m2c
= mc g mc
g=
m a + mb + m c
m a + mb + m c


mc ma
=g
36.8 N
ma + mb + mc


Tbc
Tbc

(26)
(27)

4. HRW 6.30 A toy chest and its contents have a combined weight of 180 N. The coefficient of static
friction between toy chest and floor is s = 0.42. A child attempts to move the chest across the floor

by pulling on an attached rope. (a) If the rope makes an angle of = 42 with the horizontal, what
is the magnitude of the force ~
F that the child must exert on the rope to pull the chest on the verge
of moving? (b) Write an expression for the magnitude F required to pull the chest on the verge of
moving as a function of the angle . Determine the value of for which F is (c) a minimum and
(d) a maximum magnitude.
Solution: Heres a quick free-body diagram:

F!
y

mg

Along the y direction, the net force must be zero for the block to stay on the floor:
X

Fy = N + F sin mg = 0

(28)

N = mg F sin

(29)

Along the horizontal direction, we want the box to be on the verge of moving, so the point where
acceleration is still zero:
X

Fx = F cos s N = F cos s mg + s F sin = 0

s mg
F=
74
cos + s sin

(30)
(31)

The force will be minimum when dF/d = 0:





d
s mg
sin s cos
=0
= s mg
d cos + s sin
(cos + sin )2

(32)

The pre-factor and denominator are irrelevant; the equation above will only be zero and the force at
a minimum if sin = s cos , or when tan = s . In this case, that implies 22.8 for minimum
force.
What about the maximum? That is easier: it takes the most force when you are at 90 - you can
apply as much force as you want at that point, and the box will never move sideways . . .